I'm wondering if someone in or near My area, Eastern TN could give me an idea of pricing. I haven't done any sawing for others for 5 or 6 years. I have two people who want some pine logs cut into 4/4 boards.They will bring the logs to me, I will saw the logs and sticker the lumber and load it back onto their trailer, any ideas on the pricing?

I taught a college level course on "the time value of money" this is the best way to figure out pricing so a person doesn't end up having to wonder why he can't afford to replace blades and parts.

All the equipment is basically calculated out to its useful life and then you would break that down to an hourly price. Unless tools start falling from the sky, this is the only way to be able to be sure you have the money to replace worn out iron. Any successful businessman either knows this or his accountant knows it.

Without this knowledge on pricing it is like walking blind in the forest.

Someone at WM, can't remember who, told me a good planning figure for average cost for fuel, blades, and maintenance would be $10.00 an engine hour. With 2500 hours on my mill, I think my cost is a little less than $10.00 per hour. It has worked for me in determining my BF cutting price.

I taught a college level course on "the time value of money" this is the best way to figure out pricing so a person doesn't end up having to wonder why he can't afford to replace blades and parts.All the equipment is basically calculated out to its useful life and then you would break that downan hourly price. Unless tools start falling from the sky, this is the only way to be able to be sure you have the money to replace worn out iron. Any successful businessman either knows this or his accountant knows it.

Without this knowledge on pricing it is like walking blind in the forest.

That is true. Another factor is whether or not you can make all repairs yourself. If you have to pay someone else to make most repairs you need to factor in the difference between what you pay yourself and what someone or a business will charge you.I'm an old man and retired (what ever that means). If I can pay myself $25 an hour for "my personal time" (not business time or machine time) then I'm happy. If I had to pick up the phone and call in for a service call, 5 times that amount might not cover it... You may never have that kind of breakdown but you need to cover at least part of the possibility ahead of time instead of waiting until it happens and then trying to get your money back.

I only survived a lifetime of farming (and several other businesses) because of my skills as a mechanic, machinist, blacksmith, welder and metal fabricator. Had I had to cough up the prices that most shops charge for my repair work needs I simply couldn't have done it because in farming you don't get to set the rates. All you can control is cost...

I'm glad to see this discussion, while I will not be doing a lot of heavy sawing and hope to mostly do a little on shares I would expect to occasionally do a little job or two for $$$$ and am interested in what the market is prone to bear.

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Logged

Lifetime farmer.Lifetime sawdust lover.Old Tractor lover. Have worn a lot of hats.Once owned a Kasco mill that would saw a 30"x24' log. Now a new little LT-10 Woodmizer for my own lumber.And yes, my woodshop is seriously infested with Shopsmiths.Old geezer trying hard not to be one. :-)

Exactly right, being able to repair it yourself is a huge savings weather you call a repair truck or take it in. Being in the trucking business for too long most times I could fix a problen in the same time as it would have taken to take it in and I never minded making the $60 to $75 a hour the shops charge. Back to the subject I'd charge at least .25 a bf for real good logs and .35 if they are small. Steve

The last time I sawed I milled away from home and charged 175.00 per thousand, gas was about 1.00 a gallon ect,ect so I was thinking about 250.00 now. I also have to take into account that I am in a depressed area in that we are 50 to 100 miles from a large city and folks just don't make that much money here but the cost of living is not as high as is always the case.

Iím sorta lazy so I like to saw a little for a lot $$$. My price is on the higher side so I donít get some jobs. Saves wear and tear on the mill.

Staking and stickering is a whole different operation and should be charged as such. Iím sat up pretty good with the TK-2000. Drag the boards back and stack while the mill is making the next cut. About the only extra time required is putting down sticks between layers. After the stack is made I can pick it up out of the crib and sit it down on the customers trailer with the forklift. It doesnít take much extra effort or time on my part, so I donít charge much.

I'm jealous I want a crib and fel with forks this carrying of to a stack is getting old quick when i get that welder buddy of mine to build them cribs i want and i get that fel I will be doing the nice setup Larry Oh on the price i charge 50 a hr to pull the leavers customer can supply help or pay me 50 a hour to carry and stack

It is nice to provide a service such as stickering. But, I don't get the idea of stickered lumber on a trailer. Wouldn't it feel up and then how does it come off again. If you were portable and cutting in their yard then I think stickering would be a big help and a nice service.

I know it takes more time to make all 4/4 stock so that should cost a bit more, also if you were cutting a lot of small parts or small logs then that will drive the cost up too.

As other have said you are providing a valuable service and your time spent affects the price paid.

Most of my customers have access to FEL to unload lumber. I stack and sticker then band with poly, two bands up to 12' and 3 bands on 16'. Load on trailers with FEL. My stacks are 40" wide with 42" stickers. Place stacks on trailers onto 4X4. Customers can use straps under the stack on trailers with sides and lift with FEL. Also easy to figure BF in stack without counting each board. EX: For 4/4, 40"wide X 16' long divided by 12 equals 53.3BF per row X 10 rows equals 533 BF. I pull boards same as Larry, use dragback and place on stack using "Bibby" horses.